Category Archives: Christian Walk with God

The Christian walk with God the Father, made possible due to Jesus’ death on the cross, is a love relationship resulting in Christ-like character and ways.

How To Study Bible Characters

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All Scripture is Useful
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God intends for us to benefit from studying all of Scripture which includes the lives of those who have gone before us. Their examples show God at work in the lives of His people as well as what happens when we don’t trust and obey Him.

Tips for Studying Bible Characters

When studying the lives of people in the Bible . . .

do pray.

  • As with any kind of Bible study, you need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand. (1 Cor. 2:9-16)

develop profiles.

  • Look at the whole of their lives and ask how they responded in different situations.
  • Identify character traits. List both strengths and weaknesses.
  • Determine the effects of their backgrounds and environmental influences.

discern the principles.

  • Some of the particulars of their lives may be specific to their situation so you may not be able to literally apply everything to your life.
  • By determining the general principles that come out of this study, you should always find something to apply to your life.

discover the primary Person.

  • The Bible is about God, not Jonah, David, Paul, and all the other Bible characters.
  • The bottom line in doing a character study, then, should be to learn more about the Primary Person, or Primary Character, in the Bible. What can you learn about God as a result of this study?

Also Read: Which Bible Characters to Study

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Why Study Bible Characters

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Throughout the pages of Scripture we read the stories of many who have gone before us. Studying what God did in and through their lives can be quite beneficial.

Studying the lives of Bible Characters . . .

Walk the Walk Bible Character Study Devotional
Click image to learn more about this devotional.

helps us know how to walk the walk (1 Cor. 10:1-13; Heb. 11).

  • We find much instruction for our own lives as we study these real people, so we are not ignorant about the kinds of heart attitudes and actions with which God is pleased.
  • We see implications of truth applied to life as we look at their examples in both the positive and negative aspects of their lives.
  • We find warnings so we do not fall into the same temptations as they did but rather learn how to escape.

gives us hope (Rom. 15:4; Heb. 11:39-40; James 5:17).

  • We encounter real people, just like us, who experienced God working on their behalf. How encouraging it is to realize that God can do extraordinary things in and through ordinary people.
  • We learn that they did not always see immediate results but were able to trust God to be faithful as they relied on His promises. Since we serve the same God, we can count on Him to help us too.

In the Walk the Walk As Those Who Have Gone Before Devotional Guide you will work through thirty devotional guides where you will learn from real people living out their faith. The people chosen for this study are those of whom Scripture specifically states that they walked with or before God.

For more suggestions on who to study, go to: Which Bible Characters to Study

The next post will give some suggestions for how to study Bible characters.

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Obstacles in Becoming More Purposeful: Resistance in the Spiritual Realm

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Training Category: Church Purpose

As you pursue the purposes of God you place yourself in opposition to the work of the enemy. He will scheme to divert your focus. He will set traps and tempt you to fall into them. Satan will be a forceful resistance but he does not have to win.

How to Overcome Obstacles, or Resistance, in the Spiritual Realm

1) Become Aware of Satan’s schemes.

. . . in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Cor. 2:11)

2) Become Alert to Satan’s traps.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Pet. 5:8)

3) Become Attentive to God.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:7-8a)

For Resources on Spiritual Warfare: Spiritual Growth Resources (look for ‘Warfare’ tab)

Not all resistance in pursuing our purpose comes from the spiritual realm. Some comes from other people struggling to accept changes that may come as a result of being more purposeful.  Read:  Obstacles in Becoming More Purposeful: Fleshly Resistance & Conflicts

Church Purpose Ministry Manual

In addition to the content under the Church Purpose Training section of this site, the Church Purpose Ministry Manual also suggests what some of the schemes and traps of the enemy might be as well as four ways we can be attentive to God.

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Prayer a Lifestyle? Praying Part of Your Church Culture?

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

To pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) is to make prayer a lifestyle or permanent practice in your life, a part of your church culture. To pray without ceasing is to pray at all times and for all things.

Pray without Ceasing - Lifestyle of Prayer

Setting aside times devoted to concentrated, undistracted prayer in our individual lives and as a church is very important. But, we also need to go through our daily lives attentive to God, consistently asking God His opinion and desires and always giving Him thanks.

To pray without ceasing is what has been called “practicing the presence of God” — always conscious of His presence, turning to Him as a constant companion, making no topic off limits with Him. Keep in mind that we do not need to pray for His presence in our lives. We have His promise that He is already there.

Effectiveness in Prayer Ministry Requires that it be a Permanent Practice

In calling people to prayer, we need to be careful that we are not making prayer come across as a passing fad or following the latest church movement. Prayer needs to be seen as the norm, as the expected response in any and all situations. When prayer is a pattern, we do not just come together for prayer in times of need or crisis. As seen in the example of the early church (Acts 2:42), we will be devoted to prayer wherein we promote a prayer environment and not merely a prayer meeting.

Ways to Model a Lifestyle of Prayer, to Make Praying a Part of Your Church Culture

  • In conversations, ask the person if you can pray with them right then about what was just shared. Soon you may see other pockets of prayer around the church as people follow your example.
  • When someone e-mails you with a prayer request, let them know that you will be praying for them as you send back your reply. You may even type out your prayer or part of it in the e-mail.
  • As you hear or watch the news, silently pray for the current events right then and there or ask those in the room to join with you in prayer.
  • In your sermons or teaching, refer to times when God led you to stop and pray as illustrations when appropriate. People may grab hold of that idea for their own lives.

In addition to this content, the Prayer Ministry Manual looks at what happens when prayer is more a matter of lifestyle, or a pattern, than a sporadic effort. You will also find an assessment using an acrostic of the word “devoted” as we need to be devoted to prayer if it is going to become a permanent practice.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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Praying on God’s Terms, According to Biblical Principles?

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

Confidence Praying on God's Terms, According to His Will

Prayer was instituted by God as the means of communing with Him. He is the One who determined that prayer would be the way humans would work in cooperation with Him. Prayer is His idea, not ours. Consequently, it is only logical that we come to God on His terms, not ours.

Why Effective Prayer Ministry Adheres to Biblical Principles

  1. God will never contradict Himself in the way He answers prayer.
  2. God is not obligated to respond to prayer that violates His character or Word.

Consequently, the more we come to truly know God in the full essence of His being as depicted in Scripture, the more we will pray in ways that tap into His power.

How to Teach People to Pray on God’s Terms

When you teach on prayer, go beyond the mere commands and principles about praying to the basis for that command or principle in the character of God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov. 9:10)

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content untouched by trouble. (Prov. 19:23)

In addition to this content, the Prayer Ministry Manual considers how the fear of the Lord prevents us from living in violation of God’s character and Word and from expecting God to respond to our prayers in ways that contradicts Himself. You will also find a personal assessment for how well you adhere to God’s conditions for praying.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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Right Purposes for a Prayer Ministry

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Training Category: Prayer Ministry

If you want to develop a prayer ministry, personally or with a group, one of the first questions you must ask is “Why?” — What are you hoping to accomplish through it?

Effectiveness in Prayer Requires Having the Right Purposes for Praying

Devoted to Prayer
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Maybe you are hoping to see God take care of a list of requests.

You possibly want to see Him do great and mighty things in your midst or to bring revival.

Perhaps you simply want to be obedient to His command to pray.

Or, you may be trying to emulate the early church of the New Testament of whom it was said that they devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2:42).

While all that and much more can happen as people meet together to pray, you will undoubtedly find a greater level of effectiveness when your purposes are centered more on God than on you. When prayer is about Him and not you, you tend to come to Him with the right heart attitudes. Your role, though important, isn’t primary. If you want people to be devoted to prayer, like the Early Church, you must be focused on the right purposes for having a prayer ministry.

Emphasize the following purposes and watch the difference it makes in your prayer ministry:

  1. Use prayer as a means of keeping focused on God.
  2. Use prayer as a means of acknowledging His grace in your life.
  3. Use prayer as a means of keeping His sovereignty in place in your life.
  4. Use prayer as a means of maintaining your relationship with Him.

Check out the Prayer Ministry Manual where you’ll find some thoughts on the above four points as to what heart attitude we need within each of these purposes and the role we have in it. You will also find a parallel of the above points to Jesus’ sample prayer in Matthew 6 (commonly known as The Lord’s Prayer). And, you will be guided in determining if you, as an individual, or as a prayer group, have the right purposes for praying.

For More on what will help you develop and maintain an effective Prayer Ministry, read the following:

For More About Praying: Resources for Prayer Ministry

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